For many of us who were fortunate enough to celebrate the occasion, Halloween was a magical day in many peoples' childhoods. Dressing up in costumes, going from house to house collecting candy, then coming home and eating as much as possible until you could stand it no more...there was nothing even close to Halloween on any other day of the year. Costume Quest is a triumph because it succeeds in recapturing that feeling of wonder that Halloween brings. And on top of that, it's a very, very fun game that oozes charm, humor, and excitement.
Costume Quest is a RPG/adventure game that tells the story of a group of children who go to look for the missing sibling of one of the kids (you can choose to play the brother or the sister at the beginning of the game), who was kidnapped by monsters, on Halloween night. Perfectly mirroring a child's imagination, the children encounter monsters along the way (as well as some very helpful folks as well), with whom they do battle using the powers of their Halloween costumes. Many costumes are acquired along the way, each one with it's own unique fighting style and special ability. The children can also purchase power ups (candy serves as the currency in this game) hunt for collectibles, and can participate in various mini games and side quests along the way. The settings of the game mirror many faces of suburbia, such as neighborhood streets, backyards, playgrounds, and shopping malls, each given its own spooky Halloween-themed twist.
Costume Quest is a very accessible game. The turn-based battle sequences are never particularly difficult, and the game's campaign isn't particularly lengthy. The main game can be completed in around 6 hours, with another enjoyable DLC bundle that adds around 2 hours to the game (and is included in this PC download). But Costume Quest is a stellar example of quality over quantity. The game is incredibly enjoyable, not only because all of its systems work perfectly, but because of the game's style. The game's lead designer, Tasha Harris, worked at Pixar before joining Double Fine and making Costume Quest, and Costume Quest shares many sensibilities with that renowned studio's great films. But what really makes Costume Quest special, as alluded to earlier, is the sense of pure child-like joy it projects. The game is simple enough to be a great game for younger gamers. I personally couldn't imagine a better game to get the youngsters interested in the RPG genre. But most of all, this seems to be a game for all of us adults for who are still children at heart. As you guide the siblings Reynold and Wren through their neighborhood, collecting candy, fighting monsters, and getting into adventures, all those feelings of being a child on Halloween night will come flooding right back to you. That, to me, is the key to Costume Quest's magic, and why this is one of my all time favorite indie/downloadable titles. For those of you big kids who have young ones of your own and who are right at that age where they're ready to move past the kiddie games and try something bigger, DO NOT miss this game. Because once they're done, you'll surely want to play the game yourself. Be prepared to be transported to that magical time, when the candy was infinite, and so was your imagination.
